The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to rein in senior executive numbers, with the NSW public service recording a sustained reduction in top-level roles as part of a broader drive for fiscal discipline.
The latest workforce data shows the number of Public Sector Senior Executives has fallen from a peak of 4,217 in June 2023 to 3,865 in July 2025, a reduction of more than 350 roles, or 8.3 per cent across the public service.
The Government is on track to deliver on its election commitment to reduce the number of senior executives by 15% in its first term. Its estimated annual savings from the reduction in senior executives will be greater than $100 million per year.
This reprioritisation means more money can be spent on the frontline essential services that families and households rely on.
It is also a direct contrast to the record of the previous Liberal-National Government which, despite committing to cuts, continually oversaw a massive growth in the number of senior executives.
Between 2020 and 2021 the previous Government added 347 senior executives to the public service and added an additional 365 roles in their last eight months in office. They did this while implementing a wage freeze for essential workers.
The Minns Labor Government's progress forms part of its broader budget repair program, which includes:
- Reducing expenditure on external contractors and consultants by $450 million 2023-24, and $297 million in 2024-25, ending a culture of overreliance and poor procurement which was slammed by the Auditor-General.
- Reducing gross debt by $11 billion compared to the 2023 Pre-Election Budget Update, saving approximately $500 million per annum in interest expenses.
- Implementing a pay freeze for senior executives and Members of Parliament for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years.
- Keeping expense growth to just 2.6 per cent over the forward estimates, the lowest expense growth of any state.
- Fixing the state's broken insurance schemes, delivering better outcomes for workers, businesses and the state's finances.
- On track to deliver a return to surplus with a forecast $1.3 billion surplus in 2027-28, $200 million more than projected at the 2025-26 Budget.
Taking these tough decisions and maintaining fiscal discipline means we can deliver the homes, infrastructure and essential services that communities need, all at once, as part of a single plan.
The strategy is being rewarded by international credit ratings agencies. Last year, Fitch and Moody's maintained the state's triple-A credit rating, while S&P Global reaffirmed the state's AA+ rating, reflecting NSW's strong economy and credible approach to managing expenditure and debt.
Less money spent on senior executives, consultants and contractors means more investment can be directed towards essential services that families and communities rely on, and a more disciplined NSW Budget.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Daniel Mookhey:
"We are proud to have ended the Coalition's spending spree.
"Less money spent on backroom senior executives, consultants and contractors means more funding for the frontline services that communities need.
"We'd rather hire more teachers, nurses, paramedics and police than costly consultants and highly-paid executives."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:
"The former Liberal-National Government made similar commitments on reducing senior executives but instead oversaw a significant increase in top public servants.
"In the last eight months of the previous Liberal-National Government's term, they added 365 executives to an already bloated headcount, capping off the culture of waste that characterised their 12 years in office.
"These much-needed changes are part of how the Minns Labor Government is delivering the fiscally disciplined reforms needed to build a fairer NSW and repair the mess left by the previous government."
